MUSIC CITY TENJIN 2026 Announces Second Wave of Performers!

On September 26 (Sat) and 27 (Sun), 2026, the largest urban music festival in Kyushu, "MUSIC CITY TENJIN 2026" (pronounced: Music City Tenjin 2026, hereinafter MCT), will be held in the Tenjin area of Fukuoka City. It has been announced that Tamio Okuda and RHYMESTER will perform on the main stage, "TIGET from grabss Stage" (pronounced: Chigetto from Grabss Stage), located at the West Interaction Plaza of Fukuoka City Hall.

Tamio Okuda will appear as a special guest on the stage of Goggles and Penguin Rain Orchestra. A one-day-only special session, made possible by the deep, long-standing connection between the two acts, will be a unique highlight exclusive to MCT.

RHYMESTER will take the stage as a solo act. Known for their powerful live performances that continue to lead Japan's hip-hop scene, they will bring intense energy and excitement to the streets of Tenjin.

MCT 2026 brings together artists across generations and genres. Exclusive collaborations and live performances, available nowhere else, will fill the autumn air of Tenjin with music.

Tamio Okuda RHYMESTER

Tamio Okuda (Okuda Tamio)

Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1965. Debuted in 1987 as the vocalist of the band "UNICORN," releasing numerous hit songs such as "Tai Meiwaku" and "Hataraku Otoko." In 1994, he launched his solo career with the single "Ai no Tame ni." Since then, he has continued to leave a significant mark on Japan's rock scene with his unique "relaxed rock" style, exemplified by songs like "Musuko," "Easy Rider," and "Sasurai." As a producer, his talents extend across multiple fields, having worked with artists such as PUFFY and Kaera Kimura.

RHYMESTER

Formed in 1989, RHYMESTER is a hip-hop group consisting of Utamaro (rapper, radio personality: TBS Radio's "After 6 Junction 2" and others, airing weekdays from 8 PM), Mummy-D (rapper/producer: solo debut in March 2024 with the album "Bars of My Life"), and DJ JIN (DJ/producer). Renowned for their exceptional live performances, they are widely recognized as the "King of the Stage." Since the late 1980s, when hip-hop had not yet taken root in Japan, they have almost single-handedly developed and refined the methods for rapping in Japanese. Through consistent releases and energetic live activities, they have been pivotal figures in shaping Japan's hip-hop scene to this day.

【MUSIC CITY TENJIN 2026 Event Overview】

Dates: September 26 (Sat) – 27 (Sun), 2026 ※Held rain or shine; canceled in severe weather

Venue: West Interaction Plaza of Fukuoka City Hall (1-8-1 Tenjin, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka), and various locations throughout the Tenjin area

Admission: Free ※Except for certain programs

Performers: Goggles and Penguin Rain Orchestra + Special Guest Tamio Okuda, RHYMESTER, and others

※Performance dates, times, and additional performers will be announced at a later date.

Organizer: Music City Tenjin Organizing Committee

(We Love Tenjin Council, FM Fukuoka, Nishitetsu Agency, Nishinippon Shimbun, Nishitetsu Railway, Fukuoka Broadcasting, Love FM International Broadcasting) ※In alphabetical order

【2025 Event Results】

Number of stages: 37 Number of performing acts: 193 total Attendance: 97,125 total

<MUSIC CITY TENJIN OFFICIAL HP>: https://musiccitytenjin.com

<MUSIC CITY TENJIN OFFICIAL SNS>

X: https://x.com/musiccitytenjin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicCityTenjin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiccitytenjin

(Reference) Call for Submissions: MCT2026 Main Visual!

For this year's "MUSIC CITY TENJIN," we are launching a public call for photos and illustrations to feature as the main visual. This year's MCT main visual will be YOU. We are seeking passionate and impulsive expressions from people living in the city—your "soul scream." Selected images will be used to create advertisements that take over the streets of Tenjin. We look forward to your submissions.

<MCT2026 Main Visual Submission Project Overview>

- Submission Content: A facial photo or illustration expressing "soul scream"—intensity, impulse, and joy felt through music and daily life.

□ Photo: Screaming expressions, moments of ecstasy (smartphone photos accepted)

□ Illustration: Abstract depictions of explosive emotions, original character faces, etc.

- Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2026, 18:00 JST

- Notification of Selection: Selected applicants will be contacted by email starting August 2026.

- Display Period: Late August 2026 – September 27, 2026

- Submission Method: Online via dedicated form

Submission URL: https://forms.gle/eRXnP7xEfNhD4doN7

For details, please visit the MCT official website: https://musiccitytenjin.com/news/news04

(Reference) MCT2026 Collaborative Event: "K-POP Dance Contest" Announced – Team Applications Now Open!

At Solaria Plaza, we will host the K-POP dance contest "TENJIN DANCE K-POP STAGE," in collaboration with "MUSIC CITY TENJIN."

Starting today, we are accepting video-based applications (preliminary screening) for teams aiming to advance to the final stage.

Applications are open in two categories: "Junior Division (high school students and under)" and "General Division (18 years and older, excluding high school students)." Twelve teams from each category (24 total) who pass the preliminary video screening will compete in an intense two-day final stage.

We are calling for teams who will fully express their daily practice and passion at MCT2026, a festival overflowing with music.

<TENJIN DANCE K-POP STAGE Performer Recruitment Overview>

Venue: Zephyr, 1F Event Space, Solaria Plaza (Fukuoka City, Chuo Ward, Tenjin 2-chome, 2-43, Fukuoka Prefecture)

Target Genre: K-POP (covers, copies, original arrangements, etc.)

Recruitment Categories: ① Junior Division: Teams consisting of high school students and under ② General Division: Teams consisting of individuals aged 18 and over (excluding high school students)

Recruitment Rules: Up to 5 members per team, performance time within 3 minutes.

※Individuals may not participate in multiple teams.

Application Fee: Preliminary entry is free.

Final entry fee (for teams that pass the preliminary round): ① Junior Division: 5,000 JPY ② General Division: 10,000 JPY

Application Method: Submit via entry form with a URL to your review video (recorded in 2026, uploaded as unlisted on YouTube).